When we learned of the creation of the new professional women’s hockey league and, consequently, the dissolution of the Montreal Force, Tricia Deguire still did not know where she would play in the fall.
The Sherbrooke goalkeeper had not renewed her agreement with the Montreal team. She was weighing her options; Would she play with another PHF (Premier Hockey Federation) team, or would she join a Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA) team? “I hadn’t made my final decision yet,” she says on the phone.
The creation of the new league narrowed its options down to just one; she therefore made herself eligible for the repechage, scheduled for September. The problem is that a few weeks ago she had started a long rehabilitation process which should last between 9 and 12 months to heal a “lower body” injury that occurred during the summer.
Deguire was therefore not among the 90 players selected during the draft in September. What you need to know is that players can only become eligible for the draft twice. The goalkeeper therefore exhausted one of her two attempts.
“Putting my name was the best way for people to know that I wanted to play again. We’ll see what happens with that next year. »
For the first time, she found herself without a team. A disappointment… which she quickly transformed into motivation in her recovery.
Then an unexpected opportunity presented itself.
During the summer, the Sherbrooke Phoenix, in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), hired Olivier Gervais as goalie coach. Gervais is also Tricia Deguire’s trainer. You can guess where we’re going with all this.
When Gervais was hired in Sherbrooke, Deguire had just gotten injured. “We discussed the fact that I stay in hockey and learn the game in another way so that we can be sure that my development as a player continues,” says the 26-year-old athlete.
Gervais therefore recommended the goalkeeper to the Phoenix for the position of video coach. Deguire met the general manager, Philippe Sauvé, and it clicked.
“He knew that I was a girl from Sherbrooke, that I had a passion for hockey even if I couldn’t play it. I was really ready to learn too. I had never done this, so I was really ready to learn the technology behind the game. I think that’s what made the guys see a lot of determination, a lot of desire. »
Deguire mostly attends home games; her role, she explains briefly, is to support the group of coaches from off the ice during games.
She is also a kinesiologist, in addition to doing substitute work in schools. Not to mention his rehabilitation. In short, his schedule is busy.
Deguire is learning a lot in her new position, but she’s also teaching her colleagues, as the only woman on the coaching staff.
“The guys are super open. […] It’s fun to learn about the masculine side, and they can discuss with me about the feminine side. Especially with the women’s league coming up, they’re interested in knowing what’s going to happen with that. »
Tricia Deguire has always enjoyed teaching her knowledge as a coach in summer camps, for example. Having a position like hers with the Phoenix, she believes, “it just confirms a little bit your determination, your passion and your skill in hockey, regardless of whether you’re a girl or not.” She also takes care to thank the members of the organization for having placed their trust in her.
She is not closing any doors regarding the continuation of her journey in the world of coaches.
“It’s clear that becoming a goalie coach, head coach or assistant coach is the next step I would like to achieve, both in men’s and women’s hockey. »
She is not drawing a line under her playing career either.
“Having this experience this year will just take me further in my hockey career. Then, in my hockey career, I will be able to have more experience to allow me to coach. »
It’s all in everything, as they say.
